"Family is felt, not forced."
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'We're back, Mum!' Sandor calls out cheerfully, strolling in.
'Mother,' Clement nods.
Hiding behind my taller brothers, Lady Violet doesn't see me right away.
'Why were you late, Clem?' she asks her older son sweetly.
'I was busy,' he says calmly, standing behind a chair.
'Well, I'm happy you're here now.'
When I stand behind a chair of my own, Lady Violet notices me.
'Adira,' she says softly, a gentle smile on her face.
'Hello, Lady Violet.'
'Welcome, dear. Are you joining us for lunch?'
'She is, Mum. Make sure there's plenty of food. She definitely needs it. Look at how skinny she is!' Sandor interrupts.
'No I-'
'You're skinny,' he presses.
Lady Violet looks at me carefully, nodding slowly.
'You're right, San. She is a bit too small for her age.'
She waves her hand.
'Sit, dear. There's plenty of food to go around, so eat as much as you'd like.'
Seeing the piles of food in front of me, I wonder where they'd all put it. This amount of food would be enough to feed Mamma and I for a week and that's until we're stuffed and nearly bursting! I just watch my brothers with amazement as they eat, one plate after another, before looking at my own meagre food. The difference is simply shocking. Even Lady Violet is eating more than me!
Maybe I am underweight…?
I shake myself out of the stupor I'm in and focus on eating as much as I can. Eating lots now means I can save more of the food at home. I'm glad I'm the only one with a key to my room. That means no one can enter while I'm away. It'd be terrible if someone entered and poisoned the food I have or put something in there that can harm me. With Mamma gone, I need to be extra careful. I cannot drop the ball again.
At least the servants here didn't know I was coming, and can't do anything to the food. I'm safe for now.
Hack. Hack.
I glance at Brother Sandor who choked on his own food while scarfing it down. Thumping his chest while downing water, the coughing eventually subsides, but there's not much response from Brother Clement or Lady Violet.
'…Are you alright…?' I ask with uncertainty.
'Don't worry about him,' Clement says flatly, his poise present with every cut of his knife.
'He does this at every meal,' Lady Violet sighs. 'What am I going to do with you? You were taught manners, San.'
'Sorry, Mum,' he says sheepishly, a grin still bright on his face.
'You should be more elegant like your brother. Look at how poised he is. There's not a single imperfection. And look at you hunched over your own plate. No one's going to steal your food. Even Adira's more polite when eating than you are.'
Brother Sandor pouts.
'I'm starving!'
'That's no excuse to forget your table manners. Do I need to get a teacher for you again?'
He shudders.
'No, no! I don't need another strict teacher! I'm fine on my own!'
'Really?' she asks, an eyebrow raised.
He nods quickly.
'Very well.'
She takes a napkin and elegantly wipes her lips, her plate empty.
'I'll leave you youngsters to relax and enjoy then. Adira, I hope you come again. I would love some female company. Having only boys around is a real bore.'
She smiles softly, turning to her sons.
'Make sure you take good care of your sister,' she says before standing and leaving the room.
With Lady Violet gone, the room falls silent with the only sound coming from clanging utensils. The rest of the time is spent in this silence. Not even Brother Sandor can break it, though I doubt he could from the way he is still scarfing down his food.
Brother Clement finishes first, neatly setting his utensils down, his posture still perfectly straight, though he does lean back slightly. He must have impressive strength under those clothes since he's not even leaning against the back of the chair. Looking at my spindly limbs, I wonder if I'd be able to gain muscles like my brothers. Even Brother Brutus and Brother Xander have impressive muscles, though you can see it more on Brother Brutus than Brother Xander.
Looking back at Brother Clement, I can't help but ask.
'Do you have muscles?'
He turns to look at me, his eyes filled with questions.
'Muscles?' he asks slowly.
I nod.
'Yeah. Muscles.'
'Um…Yes…?'
'But you're so skinny!'
Brother Sandor bursts out laughing.
'Skinny,' he chortles.
Brother Clement frowns at Brother Sandor, before looking at me once more.
'I have muscles. All the Princes have muscles.'
'Even Brother Sandor?' I gasp in amazement.
I never realised all of my brothers had muscles under their clothes. Some of them look so slender, like they don't work out. I guess all Princes need to learn how to use a sword.
'Yes. It's part of our studies.'
'Can I learn?' I ask.
'Why do you want to know?' Brother Sandor asks.
'Well, I was just thinking maybe I need more muscle.'
'You need more fat too,' he comments.
'Fat?'
'Yes. To be healthy, you need some fat on your body,' he sighs. 'But look at you, just skin and bones.'
'But I don't want to be fat.'
'You won't be fat. We just need to add a bit of fat and maybe some muscle.'
'Can I do what you do?'
'What do you mean?' Brother Sandor asks.
'Well, can I get muscles like you and Brother Clement?'
'That might not be a good idea,' Brother Clement interrupts.
'Why not?' I ask.
'You could get hurt.'
'But I can learn how not to get hurt.'
'It might make her healthier, bro.' Brother Sandor adds.
Brother Clement looks at me, his eyes narrow as he inspects me.
'It should be fine if you're doing it just to be healthy. There are no laws against females exercising to become healthy.'
'So what do I do? When do I start?' I ask, excitedly.
'First, you need to learn the laws.'
'The laws?' I ask, confused.
'Yes. The laws. If you know the laws, you know what you can and can't do.'
'Can I learn the laws?'
'Yes. Everyone can learn the laws.'
'So, then can I go to the library?'
'If I can enter the library in your wing,' he compromises.
'Deal!' I cry, doing a happy little jig in my seat.
'When do we start?' I ask again.
'Now.'
'Let's go!' I jump out of my chair.
'What about me?' Brother Sandor whines, pouting.
'You'd be a nuisance,' Brother Clement says factually.
'I'm not a nuisance!'
'You're too loud.'
'I can be quiet!'
'But you're not.'
'You're so mean, bro!'
'I'm not. I'm telling you as it is.'
'But I want to help…'
'Then can you help me with my law studies?' I ask.
Brother Sandor pulls a face.
'Law studies are so boring!'
'You can teach her the basics of exercising then,' Brother Clement compromises.
'Really?' he asks, his eyes lighting up.
Brother Clement nods.
'She'll need to start today anyway. She can read one set of laws and then go with you.'
'I'm just reading the laws?' I ask.
'What else do you need apart from reading?'
'But won't you need to test me?'
'You still need a test? Can't you just remember it from reading it once?'
Brother Sandor sighs.
'I've already told you, bro. You're the only one that can remember something after reading it once.'
'Really?' Brother Clement asks.
I nod.
'Even I can't do that. I'd need to read it over again for a week before I remember.'
'Well, you're better than Sandor, at least. I finally have a smart sibling.'
'Hey! I'm plenty smart!' Brother Sandor cries.
Brother Clement just stares at him.
Brother Sandor doesn't back down at first, but he's quick to look away.
'I just don't like books,' he mutters.
'You only like novels.'
'Who doesn't like novels?' I ask.
Brother Sandor points to Brother Clement.
'You don't like novels?' I ask, astonished.
'Novels have no substance. You can't learn anything from them.'
'You must not be reading the right novels then. You can learn a lot from them.'
'Like what?' he asks, not convinced.
'Well, I read this novel from the Kingdom of Asia and it had a lot of their customs throughout.'
'You can learn about those in normal books.'
'Not like that,' I say, shaking my head.
Seeing Brother Clement not understanding, I sigh.
'Have you read… um… Asian Customs?'
Brother Clement nods.
'Asian Customs is about the customs of the Kingdom of Asia.'
'But they're customs foreigners learn, right?'
'Of course.'
'Well, did you know that each area of the Asian Kingdom has their own customs?'
'Like?'
'Like how the Earldom of Japan has a completely different local language and customs to the Earldom of South Korea. They have their own languages, dialects, and unique mannerisms that you don't find in the books like Asian Customs. Unless you actually read a novel written by someone in the Earldom of Japan, you wouldn't notice them.'
'Fascinating,' Brother Clement frowns. 'So there are more things I don't know than I realised. I haven't read any of the novels in the palace library.'
'Whereas I've read them all!' Brother Sandor speaks up.
'Are there good ones in the library?' Brother Clement asks.
'Of course! There's plenty! Even romance books help you with romance!'
'How do you know?' I ask, my eyes wide.
The only romance I've seen in the palace is Brother Murdoch creeping around with servants.
'Because half the time, they make sense.'
I can't say anything to that, and Brother Clement just gives him another deadpan stare.
'It's true!' he argues.
'So what laws am I learning first?' I ask, turning back to Brother Clement.
'Well, I was thinking the first fifty laws in Female Laws Volume 5.'
'Fifty!' I gasp.
'Is that too little?' Brother Clement asks.
'Don't you think it's too much?' Brother Sandor mumbles.
'Too much?' Brother Clement looks at him, before looking back at me. 'It's too much?'
'Not too much, but it will take a little bit. Can we do twenty-five laws and then some exercise with Brother Sandor? I don't want to keep him waiting too long today. When we have a schedule set up, then maybe we can do fifty plus laws in a day.'
'True. This is sudden,' Brother Clement muses.
'Fine. Twenty laws and then you can go play with Sandor.'
'Let's go then,' I say, jumping to my feet.
Brother Clement and Brother Sandor stand on either side of me, escorting me back to the library. Hopefully between the two, I'll be able to learn new things. With law and hopefully fighting under my belt, I know I can get stronger. I must get stronger.